Oh, what a difference a turn in the rotation makes. When Jarrod Washburn made his last start, baffling the Tigers over seven scoreless innings, the Mariners looked like a team that could make a run in the AL West after all. The Mariners didn’t win another game from their other four starters, and as Washburn prepared for his next start Tuesday night, rumors heated up about Washburn on the selling block.

The Tigers had as good of a view as anybody at what Washburn could do, and as a team in search of a left-handed starter, they couldn’t help but be impressed. If the Mariners as serious about listening to offers for the southpaw in his final year of his contract, look for the Tigers to at least inquire. The challenge for them is that so many other teams are in need of solid, consistent starters that Washburn’s value could rise quickly, especially now that a few contenders had injury concerns emerge.

The Tigers had an appealing package for the Mariners in trade talks for J.J. Putz over the winter, including left-handed power hitting such as Jeff Larish. But these Mariners are a different team than last fall.

— Jason Beck